Year in Review - Part 2

The past year has been filled with joy and tears, change and comforting traditions that have endured through many years. Through it all, the people of Vernon County reached out to one another -- to grieve together, to celebrate together, to honor the past and to dream of the future. Here, in the first issue of the year, we take a moment to look back at some of the events and people that shaped our community, in the second part of our series. In this edition are some of 2004's most vivid moments.

Two state audits shed light on city finances

Nevada Herald

On March 2, Donna Christian told the Nevada City Council that it would take the Missouri State Auditor's Office about two months for them to complete the field work on a petition audit brought about by a citizen's initiative, with work on the audit expected to begin in about two weeks.

Nine months later, on Dec. 15, Christian met with the city council in a closed session to discuss the findings of the audit and to give them a chance to respond.

The council's responses will be included in the final audit report, which Christian said should be finished sometime in January.

It was a long nine months for Ron Chandler and other city employees who had to provide information for the audit, which could cost the city up to $25,000.

During that time Chandler also had to endure a second unrelated audit by the state auditor's office to assist in the investigation of the theft of $36,000 in city funds, as well as to prepare the annual budget for city council approval by the end of December.

Once the final report is signed by the state auditor it will become public record and it will be posted on the Missouri State Auditor's Web site.

Until then, everyone except the city council and a few other city employees will just have to wonder -- since the contents of the draft report are considered to be a work product and therefore exempt from disclosure under the Sunshine Law.

Craig Hubler, Nevada city manager, said recently that although he could not comment on the contents of the draft audit report, Ron Chandler, finance director, is pleased with the result.

The audit is the result of a petition drive spearheaded by Joe Kraft and Dick Meyers last fall that gathered 492 valid signatures. Between May and September the city was also the subject of a second unrelated investigation by the State Auditors Office that was assisting the Missouri State Highway Patrol's investigation of the apparent theft of city funds.

In April, shortly after work on the petition audit began, the city's finance department discovered a check that was not recorded, which triggered an internal investigation.

When the city finished its investigation, officials requested that the Vernon County Prosecutor and the Missouri Highway Patrol look into the incident as well.

The Highway Patrol asked the State Auditor's Office to help with the field investigation of the matter.

The State Auditors Office issued a report on Sept. 2, detailing their findings.

According to the report, the city did not track payments for various types of tax revenues to ensure that all payments were properly received and recorded in the city's accounting records.

This allowed for $24,455 in cigarette and franchise tax checks to not be recorded and to be substituted into the city's deposits for an equal amount of cash receipts that were recorded.

In addition, the report said that the city did not have adequate controls over the receipts from the city's pool and golf course that resulted in $15,256 collected at these facilities apparently being misappropriated.

These fees were collected but were apparently not recorded in the city's accounting records and not deposited into the city's bank account.

Because there is an ongoing investigation, Hubler said that the city cannot comment on the audit.

"It is a serious matter with serious consequences," he said. However, the outcome of the audit has resulted in changes in how the city handles payments that will reduce the possibility of a similar incident happening in the future.

"We are a lot better than we were before." Hubler said, adding that the morale of the finance department is the best he has ever seen.

Rain in July delays the wheat harvest

Nevada Herald

Constant rain showers proved to be too much of a good thing in early July for farmers trying to harvest wheat and plant soybeans. From June 9 to July 6 Vernon County received 11.68 inches of rain, while the average for June is only 5.63 inches.

In addition to heavy rain, Nevada suffered damaging wind. The morning of July 6 dawned to reveal damage throughout town. An ancient walnut tree in Ocia M. Crowe's lawn was completely uprooted.

Despite nasty storms, two local authors published books in July. Patrick Brophy surprised everyone by writing a book of fiction set in the 1860s.

The book is enhanced by having been written using language of that period. The story is an updated and revised version of an old Norse saga.

Then on July 15, it was reported that Thelma Shutters had also published a book of her poetry.

The book, title "Etched in Stone," is a compilation of 80 of her works.

It was named after the big rock in Zodiac, Mo., where folks carved their names.

Shutters poetry spans a range of themes, politics, religion, nature, among others. She said that they're written in a straight-forward manner so as to be easily understood.

Two local men were honored for long-term service to their respective organizations. John Atkinson, a 32-year Missouri Highway Patrol veteran joined the Nevada Lion's Club when "Eisenhower was president, Joe McCarthy was in the Senate, and rock and roll was in its infancy," according to a July 6 news report.

Burton Hoffman was honored for 70 years of service to Freemasonry. Attending the ceremony was the highest officer in Missouri Freemasonry, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Missouri Grand Lodge Stanley M. Thompson. Hoffman expressed surprise at the crowd of nearly 80 people who turned out in his honor.

The Vernon County Youth Fair unofficially kicked off on July 6 with a dog show.

Eleven participants were judged in three categories.

The canine events were held before the actual fair because of scheduling difficulties and because the dogs perform better without the distractions inherent to the fair.

The fair officially commenced on July 13, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees with a cat show, non-livestock entries and a fashion show in the evening.

The night was capped off with the crowning of Ashley Slates as Fair Queen and Reba Hurst as princess.

Wednesday, July 14, events welcomed mild temperatures and a cool breeze. Horse, mule and dairy goat judging took place in the morning. The afternoon events featured dairy cattle.

Beef cattle, swine and poultry shows were held on July 15. Ending the day's events was the Little Britches Rodeo.

Rain delayed the start of events on Friday, July 16. All of the events were cattle related.

Saturday, July 17, was the final day of the fair. The morning saw swine carcass judging, livestock judging contest and participants preparing for the trip home or the sale that evening.

A youth pet show took place that afternoon. Everything from chickens to bucket calves were shown, though cats and dogs proved the most popular.

Also that afternoon, a barbecue was held for participants and families.

The fair culminated with the livestock sale.

It was announced in the July 27 edition of the Daily Mail that the Capri Bowl owners expected to reopen the facility in September.

In May, a fire causing an estimated $300,000 started in a ball return machine just after the owners had finished refinishing the lanes.

Although the fire was mostly contained in the back of the building a computer near the front of the building was melted from the heat.

"It was pretty intense for awhile," Nevada Fire Chief Bill Gillette said. "A lot of machinery and bowling pins were destroyed."

Vernon County's Relay for Life was Friday, July 30. The event commenced at 6 p.m. that night and continued until dawn Saturday.

Team members take turns walking laps around the Square from darkness to until daylight symbolizing their refusal to stop fighting until cancer has been stopped.

While that teammate is doing laps, other members on the team can rest, listen to the entertainment, enjoy the fellowship of others or enjoy some refreshments while waiting their turn to circle the Square.

The ACS Relay for Life Committee Featured singers Tim Louderback , Katie Bond, Tim Wilson, Reanna Johnson, and Lori Bartlett. The Nevada High School Dance Team danced between performances.

August: Voters make some landmark decisions in the August election

Nevada Herald

Headlines across the state and in Vernon County at the beginning of August all spoke of one thing -- the "gay marriage" amendment on the ballot Aug. 3.

The amendment proposed to constitutionally define marriage as between a man and a woman, and it passed overwhelmingly -- with 70.8 percent in favor of it statewide. In Vernon County, the margin of approval was even greater, with 78.9 percent in favor of Amendment 2.

In local issues, a Nevada R-5 school tax levy failed, but by a narrow margin, and school officials said voters will be seeing a similar question on the ballot in the future.

In all, 1,881 voters were in favor of the levy increase while 2,271 were against it. Nevada Superintendent Dr. Ted Davis, while disappointed that the issue didn't pass, was pleased with the show of support. "We probably have people that we didn't get our message out to as well as we should have," he said. "I think we had a huge turnout and that some people who knew just how they wanted to vote for one of the state issues didn't know as much as we wanted them to about the levy issue."

"We've been a good district for a long time and we're going to continue to be one, but we're going to do some deficit spending this year," said Davis. The school has dropped 17 teaching positions and 16 non-teaching positions over the past two years, "we're feeling the pain from not having the positions we had," said Davis.

The votes had barely been tallied when the rallies began for presidential candidates and campaigns lurched into full swing. Daily Mail correspondent Ken White attended the Democratic rally, in Jefferson City in early August, and local resident Cindy Johnson attended the Republican rally as well.

International affairs came to the forefront as a handful of National Guardsmen came home from Iraq.

As they arrived, other guardsmen got the word they were on alert, and should prepare for activation. Returning guardsmen were asked to share experiences with those on alert, to help prepare them for what may lie ahead, in Iraq.

August brought with it several changes, and several changes to come later were set in motion.

Nevada lost one of its favorite sons, Judge H.A. Kelso, who died Aug. 11. Known as an activist, conservationist and staunch Democrat, many in the community mourned his passing, and long-time friends said his presence will be sorely missed.

A plan was approved by the Nevada Planning Commission to raze the Milster Funeral Home building, making way for a Family Video store on the site. A handful of citizens opposed the change, citing traffic issues as the primary concern. The building had a rich and interesting history, having once been home to the Weltmer Institute, an "alternative healing" facility. Although some were outraged about the building's imminent demise, the plan was later approved by the city council, and the building was razed in December.

Meanwhile, new beginnings were cropping up everywhere, and old traditions were carried on.

The third week in August was the first week of school for most area residents, and a traditional picnic welcoming Cottey students to the new school year was conducted. The Sheldon Old Settler's Picnic celebrated its 100th year, with old-fashioned fun, while area 4-H and FFA students once again brought home honors from the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield and the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

Nevada was gearing up for its first Sportsmen's RecFest, and event to be held in September.

The Vernon County Arts Council took its first fledgling steps, choosing a name and planning ways to promote art in the area; and Bru Java, a coffee-house style forum for local performing artists, conducted its first "Local Ear" awards ceremony to promote local performers.

September: School, hospital receive recognition for excellence in September; theater burns

Nevada Herald

In September, a Nevada couple attended the Republican National Convention, orphaned kittens caught the hearts of Vernon Countians, the cost of natural gas caused fertilizer prices to shoot up, the local hospital received an award, and the Nevada R-5 school district continue its academic excellence, receiving Accreditation with Distinction.

Seven tiny kittens had a close scrape with a gruesome end at Orscheln's Farm and Home the first of September but an employee heard a strange noise coming from a trash container and looked inside.

"They came in and got me and said that they thought they had found a litter of puppies in the dumpster," said Kelly Clark. "I thought they were joking."

When he got to the back, he saw one of the other employees pulling the kittens out of the dumpster.

Butch Burdick, another employee, volunteered to care for the kittens and to take them home. He purchased a syringe and some special kitten formula and began feeding them.

Burdick originally planned to keep all seven of the kittens but changed his mind and decided to give most of them away, except for one named Orscheln, once they were weaned.

The Nevada Regional Medical Center received an award for "Exceeding Patient Expectations" by Avatar International Inc., the leader in measuring customer expectations in healthcare.

In accepting this award, Judith Feuquay, CEO of Nevada Regional Medical Center said, "Through the patient survey process, we understand patients' expectations for service quality. For example, we monitor the responses to pain management to see if we are keeping our patients comfortable so they do not experience any avoidable pain. Our surveys are very important to our hospital to help us understand, monitor, and exceed our patients' expectations. We hope that all of our patients complete a survey when they receive it."

A local flea market, the Country Road Flea Market, located across U.S. Highway 54 from Xtreme Products, near the Nevada Municipal Airport, was completely destroyed by fire Sept. 22. The fire completely destroyed the buildings contents and left little but a charred, warped, partially collapsed metal shell by the time the fire was extinguished two and a half hours later.

A soldier from Nevada was shot by one of his fellow soldiers at a home in Clay Center, near Fort Riley, Kan., Sept. 13.

U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Hymer, of Nevada, later died from his injuries.

Sgt. Aaron Stanley, Bismark, N.D., and Sgt. Eric Colvin, Papillion, Neb., were arrested in connection with the shooting. Another soldier, Staff Sgt. Matthew H Werner, of Oxnard, Calif., was killed in the incident.

The nearly 100-year-old 13 curves bridge was replaced in September by a modern span that ended up costing the county nothing.

"This is an unusual bridge project," said Presiding commissioner C. David Darnold, "in that it cost the Vernon County taxpayers zero dollars."

"For the amount of money we put into these things, we might as well get some of it back," he added. "If we don't, someone else will."

Brent Rockhold, a corn farmer from Arbela, Mo., testified before the U.S. House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, Agriculture and Technology on the effect of high natural gas prices on corn production and profitability. Congressman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) serves as chairman of the subcommittee. Rockhold is a past president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and member of the National Corn Growers Association Ethanol Committee.

"Increased natural gas prices have already had an adverse effect on farmers due to higher production costs, and will continue to do so in the future," said Rockhold, adding high natural gas prices affect the cost of producing important fertilizers that farmers rely on for crop development.

Fertilizers account for more than 40 percent of the total energy input per acre of corn harvested, Rockhold said, and most of that energy is consumed in the production of nitrogen fertilizer. Retail prices for fertilizer rise sharply when natural gas prices increase. "Nitrogen fertilizer is a key input for the bountiful yields achieved by U.S. corn farmers," Rockhold said. "Nitrogen fertilizer in northeast Missouri has increased $25 per acre since 2000. For my 600 acres of corn, it cost me $15,000 more in 2004 to use nitrogen fertilizer on my crops. My total fertilizer costs have increased $24,000 since 2000.

A Nevada couple traveled to the Republican National Convention in New York City in September.

Carl and Cindy Johnson took part in the convention held in Madison Square Garden, scene of President George W. Bush's nomination for a second term.

The Johnsons both enjoyed the convention and said they were impressed by the friendliness of the people they met.

"I met more people than you could imagine. Everyone was extremely friendly, even the famous ones," Cindy said. "They were very nice and seemed glad to have their picture taken with you."

Some of the people the Johnson's met, or saw as they made their way to the Fox News Channel's booth, onto the set of the Today Show or The View, were Tony Snow, Rudy Giuliani, Senator Bill Frist, his wife and son, Al Roker, Merideth Vieira, Greta Van Susteren and other notables.

Bronaugh boat builder Ray Kannard and his wife Rosalie are on their much anticipated trip through the inland waterways of the eastern United States. Kannard started building the boat, My Happiness, five years ago using 2 X 4's, sheets of plywood and walnut logs he had custom sawn.

The journey was delayed by ill health for several months but Kannard finally finished the boat and put it in the water for a successful trial run in September. The boat has a GPS guided autopilot, marine band radio and a radar system along with other modern conveniences such as a microwave oven and small stove top for cooking.

The Kannards plan to be gone a year on the trip and end up somewhere along the Missouri River.

The Nevada R-5 School District was "Accredited with Distinction" for the 2003-2004 school year. Twelve different standards of student performance are reviewed and tabulated for accreditation and the district received a perfect score, 100 out of 100 points available, the third year in a row they have managed that impressive feat.

As the month came to a close, fire broke out in display at the Century 6 Cinema in Nevada, forcing the business to close for weeks. No one was injured, and the facility reopened to grateful crowds, glad to see the entertainment venue become available to them once again.

October: Postmaster retires, political races heat up

Nevada Herald

October was a very busy month in Vernon County. With the election approaching, emotions were riding high and campaigns were giving their final thrust before Nov. 2. Vernon County saw the retirement of an important local figure, a salute to local soldiers en-route to Iraq, and several violent crimes that are unusual to the area.

As the month approached, Nevada's long time postmaster retired after 30 years working for the postal service. Randy Fellows started working at the Nevada Post Office as a casual worker, one hired with no promise of a full-time permanent position, in 1970 and became a permanent worker June 20 of that year, he became postmaster in Nevada in 1988. He celebrated his last day of work Thursday, Sept. 30. Even though he didn't officially retire until the end of October, he took the last 30 days as leave time. "I started as an 89-day wonder. You get to the end of the 89 days and wonder if you still have a job," Fellows said. Fellows worked just about all of the positions in a post office, clerk, carrier, superintendent of postal operations, and postmaster.

The month of October was also a time of heated political competition, one that was perhaps more spiteful than any in recent memory. Political yard signs were vandalized and stolen by pranksters hoping to dissuade voters from choosing one candidate over another. Attack ads, push polls and other forms of political malfeasance were leveled against rivals.

The rain held off just long enough Friday night, Oct. 1, for Bridget Baldwin to be crowned NHS 2004 Fall Sports Homecoming Queen. Shortly after the ceremony the rain began to fall, postponing the start of the Homecoming game with the Carthage Tigers for about 35 minutes. The parade, which featured floats and several other participants concluded with a rally, including music from the high school and middle school marching bands, on the Square in Nevada.

On Monday night, Oct. 4, Firefighters from Nevada, Compton Junction and Milo responded to a fire at the Murphy Farms Feed Mill in Nevada. The fire started in a feed pellet machine and firefighters were able to keep the damage fairly well contained within the unit where the fire started. According to fire department estimates, the damages from the blaze totaled approximately $30,000 but did not hinder operation at the plant severely.

On Oct. 4, after a tug-of-war with members of the community opposed to it, the Nevada City Council finally approved a zoning change to allow for a Family Video store to be built on the southwest corner of Ash and Austin.

"This was a very difficult decision for the council to make," said Mayor Tim Moore, after the council gave the zoning change its final approval.

The property, which has been used as a funeral home for many years, has been zoned C-0, which allows businesses like offices and funeral homes. To permit a rental store on the site, the zoning had to be changed to C-3, which allows most commercial retail businesses.

Several years ago the city council turned down a request from Casey's General Store to change the zoning to C-3, so the company could put a store on the west end of the block, when area residents and property owners objected to the increase in traffic in the area.

Area residents and property owners tried the same tactic this time, however, most of the council members are different and the decision was different.

Mid-month, a shut down of a British biotech firm raised concerns that Vernon Countians were not going to have access to a full supply of flu shots.

Beth Swopes, Vernon County Health Unit administrator, assured local residents that there would be no shortage in her organization because they had ordered from a different company. However she warned that individual doctors might be affected by the shortage.

The probable shortage led the Center for Disease Control to issue guidelines on what segments of the population need the vaccine the most, and outlets are urged to prioritize distribution.

Due to the shortage of vaccine, the Health Department prioritized who would receive a flu shot based on CDC recommendations.

Flu vaccine purchased by the Vernon County Health Department was only to be distributed to Vernon County residents.

Vaccine already received by the Health Department was distributed to nursing home and long-term care facility residents, and to health care workers providing direct patient care in doctor's offices, nursing homes, ambulance personnel and the hospital.

The health department received 2,500 doses in total.

Beth Swopes said that most who wanted a flu shot in Vernon County were able to get one. "We had a few calls from people who weren't able to get one," said Swopes, "(but) I think we did pretty well, considering."

A 31-year-old Nevada woman, Shahanna Barnett, was arrested following an incident at 309 W. Arch. According to the police report filed by Sgt. Jeff Baker of the Nevada Police Department, when he arrived at the scene Barnett was on the porch of the house and Robert White, 27, Nevada, told him he had been stabbed and that Barnett was the person who stabbed him.

Baker said that Barnett was screaming profanities and when Baker told her that she was under arrest and to come down off of the porch she clenched her fist at Baker and began pacing. She then sat down, picked up an iron bar, stood up and held it in a threatening manner.

Baker pulled his service weapon, pointed it at Barnett and ordered her to put the iron bar down. After Baker repeated the order she dropped the bar but continued to refuse to cooperate.

Baker warned Barnett that she would be pepper-sprayed if she didn't begin to cooperate. She continued to refuse and was sprayed. Baker cuffed her right wrist but she tried to keep her left arm under her body. She finally let Baker finish cuffing her and Vernon County Ambulance District employees gave her water for her eyes.

The report states witnesses said Barnett came to White's residence after telephoning for him several times and not getting through to him.

White was taken to Nevada Regional Medical Center with a four-inch open wound on his lower right torso and a bite wound to the upper left thigh.

Barnett was charged with five felonies: a class A felony of domestic assault, a class A felony of assault on a law enforcement officer, a class B felony of burglary in the first degree, a class D felony of resisting arrest, and an unclassified felony of armed criminal action.

Mere days after the stabbing incident, Nevada Police officers underwent taser training, a tool that is useful in keeping officers out of harm's way in cases such as the stabbing incident.

The Taser™ pistol uses a cartridge containing compressed nitrogen to fire two barbed darts that are connected to the pistol by fine wires. The probes contact the skin or the clothing of the suspect and the pistol emits five second pulses of electricity which travel through the wires to the probes and disrupt the central nervous system of the suspect.

When asked if the stabbing case would be an example of an appropriate use of the Taser™ pistol Assistant Chief of Police Gary Herstein said replied that it would.

A parade and ceremony honoring National Guard troops who've been to Iraq and those soon to follow them brought out a crowd of dedicated citizens, despite the damp, chilly rain that drizzled the area throughout the day on Oct. 12.

The parade, which encircled the Square and ended at the City/County Community Center in Nevada, was followed by a ceremony featuring a devotional message and a proclamation presented by the Nevada City Council. Councilmember Mike Straight handed Mike Hoskins a copy of a proclamation signed by Mayor Tim Moore honoring the area National Guard members who are being activated for duty in Iraq. Hoskins, who has worked for the Nevada Park Department for a number of years, would normally have been helping get the haunted house ready for Halloween and starting to work on the Christmas lighting display at Radio Springs Park. Hoskins is with the 735th D Company from Poplar Bluff.

Company A was also activated, and left Nov. 2 for Fort Riley, Kan., for training.

At approximately 7:15 Monday night, Oct 25, the Sheldon Chief of Police received a call on a domestic disturbance at 201 Anderson Street in Sheldon that ended in the deaths of both parties involved. The Vernon County Sheriff's Office was called for assistance and responded.

According to Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman, Vernon County Coroner David Ferry pronounced 45-year-old Tersea L. Nelson dead at the scene. William C. Nelson was later pronounced dead at Nevada Regional Medical Center.

According to Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman, the altercation between William and Teresa Nelson involved three weapons. An autopsy revealed that Teresa's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the heart from a .22-caliber rifle.

Autopsy also indicates that William was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest from a 12- gauge shotgun.

Both victims bodies also had multiple stab wounds.

According to Peckman, the incident was officially deemed to be a murder/suicide committed by William Nelson.

Although violent crime brought low points in the month, October ended on an upswing with a record harvest for Vernon County farmers.

At 11.6 billion bushels, the October corn production estimate showed a harvest larger than any seen in recorded history. With local storage facilities already brimming over and holding grain on the ground and a record soybean crop of 3.1 billion bushels nationwide right on the corn harvest's heels, farmers were scrambling to make room to store their beans.

"Farmers are wondering where they're going to put their soybeans," said Wayne Prewitt, University of Missouri Extension. "They're moving out their corn to make room." The month ended with kids in costumes scouring the streets on Halloween, looking for the houses passing out the best treats.

November: National Guard troops send-off, meth lab bust, Veterans Day ceremony

Nevada Herald

The first morning in November saw Nevada gathered to honor Company A, 735th Support Battalion, which was to leave for training and then was to shipped out to Iraq. The crowd overflowed the auditorium's capacity and people were standing in doorways to hear the speakers. Representatives of U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton and U.S. Senator Jim Talent were on hand along with Mayor Tim Moore and City Councilman Brian Leonard as well as a delegation from the Missouri National Guard staff attended.

The ceremony began with Company A's marching into the auditorium to the tune of "Caissons Go Rolling Along" and members of the Nevada High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Color Guard presenting the colors under the direction of Master Sergeant Pete Quinlan.

Also on the first, Community Outreach celebrated 20 years of service. Former directors and volunteers took part in the celebration. Hors d'oeuvres and cookies along with cider and coffee were served to those attending.

It has taken many fine volunteers and board members over the past 20 years to help the thousands of people who have come through the doors in need. Barbara Long, the current director, said she has worked to see that people who come for help not only receive that help but also get additional help to get out of bad situations.

The second day of November saw area residents flocking as well, but this time to the polls. Election Day 2004 saw unusually high voter turn-out, many of whom cited "moral values" as a top priority according to exit polls. There were many hotly contested races in this year's election.

While ballots were being counted at the courthouse, Vernon County Sheriff's deputys were following up on evidence that resulted in the discovery of the two labs, one in Richards and the other in Stotesbury, Mo. Five people were arrested in relation to the investigation.

According to the report, it took officers about 12 hours to dismantle the labs, which included disposing of the anhydrous ammonia. "I've still got two guys out there who haven't gone home yet," said Peckman, Wednesday afternoon.

At the labs, officers also discovered a stolen handgun from Kansas but have not identified any other stolen property -- a fact which Peckman says is unusual. "You typically find stolen property at these places too," he said.

Nov. 11 was Veteran's Day and veterans were duly honored by the Nevada R-5 schools at 11:11 a.m., the time and day that World War I ended in 1918. The ceremony began with the sounding of "Eleven Bells" and the posting of the colors.

Ken Loomer, president of Precision Aero, was presented a high school diploma 42 years after he joined the Air Force without completing high school.

Junior Air Force ROTC Cadet Jamie Bastow gave a history of Veterans Day, telling the story of the selection of the unknown soldier, "His name known but to God," and the various ways the holiday, first known as Armistice Day, had evolved over the years.

Marcella Ast and Skippy Tipton, together at the podium, both gave readings of poems dedicated to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Tipton reading "First Visit to the Wall" by Stephen R. Guilmet and Ast reading "The Wall" by Catherine Anne McNeill.

Local architect Jim Adams spoke of his service in Vietnam flying helicopters. Adams flew a Huey helicopter that could hold six to eight passengers in addition to the crew.

After Adams finished, the Nevada Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps gave a military flag ceremony. Flags from each branch of the service were shown and a brief description of them was read by Cadet Jennifer Trautman and Cadet Hanna Swopes. The Nevada Tiger Pride Band played "Salute to America's Finest" as the JROTC cadets displayed the flags. The ceremony ended with the playing of "Taps."

On Nov. 14 it was reported that soybean rust had been found in the country.

This was the first case of soybean rust to be identified in the United States.

The USDA and others have been expecting soybean rust for several years now and are preparing to deal with the problem.

Becky Grisham, communications director for the Missouri Department of Agriculture said the agency is reviewing its plan and preparing to battle the fungus during the next growing season.

On Friday, Nov. 19, Century 6 theater in Nevada reopened its doors. A September fire forced the temporary closing of the business, much to the dismay of the local movie-going crowd.

At first the Novaks hoped the theater would reopen within two or three weeks after the fire but it had been eight weeks and delay upon delay has plagued the work.

December: Toys, quilts, Miss Merry Christmas pageant

Nevada Herald

December was a time of giving, and area residents showed great generosity throughout the month, with many successful drives helping bring a Merry Christmas to hundreds of area families facing hardships.

Signs of the season were everywhere, and the annual Christmas parade and Miss Merry Christmas pageant took place Dec. 4, with Miss Missouri 2004 Whitney Weeks presiding. This year's theme was "Christmas Wishes," with most entries communicating a wish for world peace and the safety of the troops.

A regional effort that began in Nevada in September culminated in the presentation of more than 400 quilts to the National Guard Company A, 735th Battalion, Nevada, on Dec. 17.

Members of the Bushwhacker Quilt Guild set out in September to create 153 quilts for soldiers from Barton, Cedar and Vernon counties that were to be deployed to Iraq around the first of the year.

Quilts were donated from as far away as Las Vegas, Nev. Some came from parts unknown, sent anonymously, and most came from Missouri and Kansas towns including Nevada, El Dorado Springs, Harrisonville, Butler, Appleton City, Rockville, Rich Hill, Buffalo, Jerico Springs, Stockton, Springfield, Lamar, Deerfield, Milo, Pleasanton, Kan., and many other towns and cities.

On Dec. 9, the roadside view along Austin Boulevard changed dramatically as the old Milster Funeral Home was torn down to make way for a Family Video store to be constructed on the site. Many expressed a sense of sadness and loss that the structure was razed. Although not officially listed as an historic building, it had an interesting past. The building was once the home of the Weltmer Institute, an alternative healing facility.

As the holidays unfolded, relatively uneventfully in Vernon County, across the world a tremendous tragedy struck the coast of the Indian Ocean, as a giant tsunami created by an earthquake under the sea hit with little warning. The death toll, still being counted, has already topped 120,000.

Meanwhile, at home, the 2005 county officials were sworn into office-- Presiding Commissioner C. David Darnold, Northern Commissioner Neal Gerster, Southern Commissioner Bonnie McCord, Sheriff Ron Peckman, Public Administrator Virginia Habjan and County Coroner David Ferry.